“My career is gonna be very short. … One and a half years, that’s all.”
Interview with Elton John
Record Mirror, February 20, 1971
Interview by Bill McAllister
Elton John sat down casually, dressed in red trousers, a green T-shirt and a black Chinese housecoat, sipping an odd egg-based drink while posing for the camera. The atmosphere was relaxed, informal, and full of humor. Nothing controversial was planned — we simply talked.
“My career is gonna be very short. One and a half years, that’s all. I want to quit while I’m at the top and then fade into obscurity.”
He paused, then added:
“Does it sound bad saying I want to quit while I’m at the top? I don’t mean it arrogantly. It’s just that so many artists never see the end — they never know when they’ve started that long slide downhill.”
Elton explained that his commitments were already mapped out:
“I’ve got lots of obligations for this year and next, and when they’re all done the group will split.”
According to him, two more American tours were planned, one early in 1972, and that would be the end.
“There won’t be anything after that, because I know — I just know — that I’ll be tired of being on the road by then.”
At the time, his main motivation was still the enjoyment of playing:
“At the moment all I’m interested in is playing, because I’m enjoying myself so much.”
He acknowledged that there had been talk about films, but felt that would come later:
“When the group breaks up — it must sound horrible talking about it like this, but it’s so inevitable — we all accept it, and that’s the best way.”
Elton then spoke about the future of the other band members. Nigel Olsson, he said, would likely move into production full-time, something he enjoyed greatly. Dee Murray, on the other hand, would always remain a player:
“I can’t ever see a time when he won’t be. He’ll always be successful.”
Elton reflected on how carefully he had thought about forming the group:
“I had a pretty clear idea of the kind of group I wanted — the basic, raw thing we’ve got now, lots of power. But I also knew how hard it would be to find the right people.”
He admitted initial doubts about Nigel Olsson:
“I was a little unsure about him at the start, but I wanted to give him a chance. Other people told me to get rid of him, said he wasn’t good enough. I said, ‘Hold on, wait,’ and it’s worked. He’s improved enormously.”
He added that both Nigel and Dee being able to sing was a major strength of the band.
Despite speaking repeatedly about the group’s eventual breakup, Elton stressed that he was simply being realistic:
“It seems bizarre to talk about the band breaking up, but it has to happen. This is just me talking about the inevitable.”
Looking ahead, he revealed ambitions beyond music:
“I really want to do films. But it can’t just be a pop star trying his hand at acting — that would be wrong. I wouldn’t even attempt it if I didn’t think I could do it well.”
He concluded with a statement that, in retrospect, became one of the most ironic quotations of his career:
“My career is gonna be very short… one and a half years, that’s all.”
📌 Editorial note (for archival or timeline use)
This interview, published in Record Mirror on February 20, 1971, stands as a striking early document of Elton John’s self-perception before global superstardom. The prediction of a brief career sharply contrasts with the more than five decades of international success that followed, making this quote one of the most frequently cited examples of early-career misjudgment in popular music history.
https://archive.org/details/elton-john-my-career-is-gonna-be-very-short-1-12-years-thats-ali
Source: Record Mirror — February 20, 1971 PDF link:RM's Bill McAllister interviews Elton John in depth. Part 1
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